Humbled 7-2 by Barcelona to exit the Champions League in midweek, Newcastle’s hopes of European football next season were dented after Sunderland came from behind.
Another defeat to their local rivals will sting ever more as the Black Cats extended a club record unbeaten league run against Newcastle to 11 games.
Sunderland’s victory also takes them up to 11th and above the Magpies in the table.
A famous victory was soured by a report of racist abuse aimed at Lutsharel Geertruida which briefly halted the game in the second half.
The Premier League said a full investigation will take place after the Dutch defender reported the incident to the officials.
In the first meeting between the sides at St. James’ Park for 10 years it looked like Newcastle were finally about to settle some scores.
Anthony Gordon fired Eddie Howe’s men into a 10th minute lead after Nick Woltemade pounced as Sunderland tried to play out from the back.
Sven Botman also hit the post just before the break.
But Newcastle’s exhausting schedule over recent months caught up with them after the break.
No side in Europe’s top five leagues have played more games than Howe’s men this season, but their campaign is in danger of fizzling out to an anti-climatic finish.
Defeats for Liverpool and Chelsea on Saturday had opened the door for Newcastle to get back in the race for a top-five finish.
But they remain seven points adrift of fifth and in a battle just to secure Europa or Conference League football next season.
Meanwhile, Tottenham slipped ever closer to relegation from the Premier League with a 3-0 defeat to fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest.
Spurs have not tasted life outside the English top flight since 1978 but remain the only side without a Premier League win in 2026.
Goals from Igor Jesus, Morgan Gibbs-White and Taiwo Awoniyi inflicted the latest in a series of damaging defeats on interim Tottenham boss Igor Tudor.
West Ham’s 2-0 defeat at Aston Villa ensured Spurs remain one point outside the relegation zone with seven games remaining.
Vitor Pereira’s first league win as Forest boss propels his side four points above the drop zone.
Tottenham fans gathered in north London en masse before kick-off to line the streets in a show of support under the banner “all together, always.”
But nerves quickly took over the state-of-the-art 63,000 capacity Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after Jesus rose highest to head in a corner just before half-time.
Gibbs-White could have been starting in white rather than red had Forest not stood their ground after Spurs reportedly met his buyout clause last summer.
The Forest captain instead signed a new deal at the City ground and has played a big role in leading his side away from trouble.
Gibbs-White was left completely unmarked to turn in Callum Hudson-Odoi’s cross on the hour mark for his third goal in four league games.
No side has taken fewer points at home in the Premier League this season than Tottenham and they failed to muster a response.
Awoniyi inflicted the final blow when he met Neco Williams’ cross three minutes from time. (AFP)
Edited by Cecil Wong
